JEH; story
I am not really a fan of pathetic life stories, as if I had an amazing and unique experience to share. My life has been rough, exhausting and crushing. But this is no place for the dusty old tales about hard living, this is rather a collection of some key moments in my life.
Childhood
This is the only picture of myself that I own from my childhood. I don't even own the original anymore, just this old, low resolution picture.
Back when I was younger, I also didn't really about pictures all that much. I liked taking them, but never thought my own face is all too relevant to preserver for future generations.
My childhood has been brutal, unloving and mentally exhausting. I can't think of a reason why I am smiling so much on this picture, this just speaks for
my resilliance.
Elementary school was the same story. But I aquiered a few valuable skills. Like, talking to strangers, trusting everybody and being able to use my imagination to escape weird situations.
School
School was fucking shit. Let's say I graduated, and that's it.
Oostende
2016 was the most significant time in my life. I had travelled europe before, a one week school trip to England. This time was a bit different.
two whole months in Belgium,
Oostende
. One of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen
I think it's something about port cities. Old crusers, sailing, loud noises and yet sometimes deserted shores with lots of air to contemplate.
This was my first internship in a real setting, abroad. Erasmus+. My friend gave me the oppurtunity to work as an intern at the muzeeum, an organisitation located in the Mu.Zee, a museum which names fittingly translates to at the sea.
I am a horrible intern. Usually I liked to party, play my guitar and sleep as much as possible. My actual tasks were to prepare tables for workshops and help where I can.
And I mostly did that in the first month, the second month was filled with me struggling with myself. You can read my original, less reflecting blog posts
here
.
Mind the German tho.
Until today I never realized how fortunate it was to me to participate. Belgian people are a different breed. Much funnier and straightforward thinking people than I could have ever imagined. I enjoyed every interaction.
Old man trying to get a lighter from me while speaking French, the sandwich lady not talking in English because Dutch is relevant here. The random man trying to kiss me in a karaoke bar only to find out the next day, that he's working as a security guard at the museum!
My experiences were true and honest. I wish I would have been more true and honest myself back then.
Living abroad made me realize, that I really dont' just belong at one place and one place only. At least not at this given time. It also came with many difficulties, challenges and realizations.
I was a bad intern, broke and depressed during that time. Still, it shaped me and challenged me to grow up!
hww
"Heros agianst will", a basic translation of the Helden wider Willen. Today, I still don't know for sure what they meant with that, But I am certain, that they have a good explanation. The Helden wider Willen e.V. is an organization that influenced the second half of my life thus far. Art, social interaction and modern topics overall, these people saved me from drowning in a world without curiosity.